Wheeled toy



June 17, 1930.

H. L. KRAEFT WHEELED' TOY Filed Feb. 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jwpimtou af/mwa/w June 17, 1930. H. L. KRAEFT 1,764,733

WHEELED TOY Filed Feb. 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f xZ W Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES iPATENT OFFICE HERMAN" L. KRAEFT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO MURRAY OHIO MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO WHEELED TOY Application filed February 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,783.

10 feature is that the steering arrangement is combined with the stack, in such manner that it does not detract from the appearance of the stack as such, while at the same time it is advantageously located for steering.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description relating to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form. The essential novel features are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy steam roller lncorporating my invention; F 1g. 2 1s a substantially central longitudlnal sectional View of the toy; Fig. 3 1s a fragmentary cross sectional plan vie-w taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view as indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3 with the steering parts in a different relationship.

Referring indetail to the drawings, 1 indicates a suitable mainbody or frame. This preferably comprises suitably shape-d sections of sheet metal, there being a top portion 3 and side portions 4 rigidly joined in any suitable manner. Surmounting the body is a cab structure including upright frame members 5 for supporting atransversely crowned top or roof 6. Ahead of the cab and extending out of the top of the body is a hollow tube 4 example, the fly-wheels of an engine.

The toy has a pair of large rear wheels 15 on an axle 16, supported by and extending through the side memberst, and a dirigible relatively small front wheel17. All these wheels preferably have relatively wide treads as in the usual full sized steam roller construction.

At its forward end, the body is undercut, as at 11, to clear the front wheel 1.7, the latter being supported on a fork 18 which is in turn carried by a vertical pivot or king pin 19. The kingpin, as shown, extends through the body top portion and a cross brace 20 connecting the body sides. The king pin may have a suitable head 19 to hold the fork alga-inst verticalmovement, and the pin itself may be held in place by a cotter pin above the top of the body.

For swinging the front wheel 17, to thereby steer the toy, the fork 18 has a rearwardly extending steering arm 25 centrally of the toy and within the body 1. Cooperating with this arm is a steering shaft 28 mounted within and laterally supported by the stack 7. Pref erably, the stack is held'in place by an inturned tubular portion 31 of the body which is telescoped'by the lower end of the stack and to which the latter may be spot welded or otherwise rigidly fixed. A lower bearing for the shaft 28 may comprise a cross plate 33, secured as by bolts 34 to the underside of the body, as shown in Fig. 4.

The bottom end of the shaft is bent, as at 35, to form an arm, the free depending end 35 of which extends through a slot 36 in the steering arm 25; the arrangement being such that turning the shaft will thereby turn the fork and front wheel. The upper end of the shaft 28 carries a steering wheel 38, shown as a )ressed metal cap rigid with the shaft and having a depressed central portion 39 fitting into the top of the stack to hold the shaft in position. The outer rim of the cap is turned into a bead 40 to provide a hand hold for the child. Suitable means for holding the shaft against upward movement may from this, the bail has an arcuate portion 51,

the are being determined by the location ofthe king pin. As the fork is turned, this arcuate portion of the bail moves freely in a guide 52 depending from a cross brace 53, secured as by flanges to the sides 4 of the body.

It will be seen from the above description, that I have provided a toy in'which the usual smoke stack simulating member supports or embodies one of the essential parts of the steering device. I believe this is an entirely new thought in toy construction. It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the steering arrangement, and that any of the wheels of this or similar toys may be steered rather than a central front wheel, by dirigibly mounting such other wheels and providing suitable link connections therefrom to a steering shaft or column associated with or made part of the stack.

If desired, instead of a separate shaft running down through the stack for connection with the steering mechanism, I may mount the stack itself in such manner that it may turn and thereby effectsteering. This is not illustrated.

I claim:

1. A toy construction including supporting wheels, one of which wheels is adapted to be turned to steer the toy, a smoke stack simulating device on the toy, and steering means connected to said turnable Wheel and associated with the stack.

2. In a toy, a body, supporting wheels carried by the body, one of said wheels being turnable on a vertical axis to steer the toy, a tube surmounting the body and simulating a smoke stack, a shaft extending through the tube, means on the shaft surmounting the stack, whereby the shaft may be turned by a child using the toy, and means operatively connecting the shaft with the said turnable wheel.

3. In a toy steam roller, a body, a pair of rear non-dirigible wheels having a relatively wide tread, a centrally disposed dirigible' wheel also having a relatively Wide tread and disposed beneath the body, a smoke stack simulating tube surmounting the body at the front end thereof, a steering shaft passing through said tube and supported thereby, and means operatively connecting the shaft to said dirigible Wheel.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix m signature.

' HERMAN L. KRAEFT. 

